CANADA’S FOREST SECTOR CELEBRATES ITS BEST AND BRIGHTEST IN VANCOUVER

Earlier today, Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) hosted its annual Awards of Excellence luncheon in Vancouver where it recognized individual and group contributions that are making a difference and taking the industry into the future.

FPAC hosts this annual event to recognize excellence in the sector and to honour the achievements of our workers and community partners. Winners are selected across several categories including Forest Community Champions, industry partners, Indigenous leadership, women in forestry, rising stars, innovation, and lifetime achievement. “The people of Canada’s forest products sector are making contributions every day to help us realize important environmental and economic outcomes,” said FPAC President and CEO, Derek Nighbor. “It’s important that we recognize these efforts and say thank you to these special people in our businesses and in our communities who are doing such great work,” he added.

FPAC’s 2019 Awards winners include:

Forest Community Champion Awards

Jim Carr – Member of Parliament Winnipeg South Centre, and Minister of International Trade Diversification

Ed Fast – Member of Parliament, Abbotsford, and former Minister of International Trade

Lyn Hall – Mayor, Prince George, BC

Pascal Cloutier – Mayor, Dolbeau-Mistassini, QC

FPAC Partnership Awards

Kirsten Vice –National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) – Montréal, QC

Forestry Futures Alliance- Edmonton & Calgary, AB

Indigenous Business Leadership Award

Selkin Logging Limited – Fraser Lake, BC

Skills Award for Indigenous Youth

Zachary Julian – Mi’Kmaq First Nation, NS

Lance Black – Anicinape of Abitibi, ON

FPAC Innovation Award

Brian Merwin, and the Corporate Development Team, Celgar – Mercer International

FPAC Lifetime Achievement Awards

Jim Witiw – Mercer International

François Dumoulin – Resolute Forest Products

FPAC Outstanding Member Award

Donna Kopecky – LP Building Solutions

Sandy Ferguson – Conifex Timber Inc.

FPAC Women in Forestry Award of Excellence:

Jennifer Tallman – EACOM Timber Corp.

FPAC Rising Star Award:

Marie-Philippe Drouin – Resolute Forest Products

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FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. The $69-billion-a-year forest products industry represents 2% of Canada’s GDP and is one of Canada’s largest employers operating in more than 600 communities and providing 230,000 direct jobs across the country.